By Fatmata Jengbe
On the 21st November 2020, the Dorwontony Organisation for the Aged (DOFA) with the support from Heritage Group of Company, provided food items and psycho-social counselling to the aged at Masoni on Thunder Hill, Kissy, East End of Freetown.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Dorwontony Organisation for the Aged, Doreen Barrie, in her statement to the aged highlighted how they were happy to be with them with the main objective of interacting with them and give them pieces of good advice.
She noted how it does not mean that simply because they are old they are no longer relevant in society and cannot play useful roles. The CEO maintained that they are reminding the Government about the challenges that old people face in their communities and want policies to be adopted that will improve their lives.
“You all need good food , good places to sleep as well as good medical facilities as they will help you to be healthy and strong. We are providing advocacy in that direction by appealing to the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations,” she intimated.
She revealed that they are partnering with the Legal Aid Board to provide legal representation for the aged whenever the need arises. Doreen furthered that they have talked with the community elders and stakeholders in order for them to give any form of assistance to old people at all times and not to disrespect them.
“I am also appealing to you to refrain from committing any form of sexual offence act as we noticed that some old people, who are incarcerated in prison, are perpetrators of various sexual offences but we don’t want to see a continuation of that,” the CEO stated adding that their No49 Pademba Road office is always open to them for any complaint one of them may want to lodge.
She informed that they came with some food that will be shares among them plus musicians who will perform for them just to make them feel lively.
Moriba Kamara, the Legal Aid Press Officer and Robert Kondema Kargbo, a Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) talked about the importance of treating old people in dignified ways and treat them with respect.
It is worthy of note that the Legal Aid Board has on the 19th November 2020 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dorwontony Organisation for the Aged (DOFA) to improve access to the scheme.
The MOU is geared towards ensuring older people have unhindered access to legal aid services provided by the Board which will enhance their access to justice. This will entail DOFA channelling all legal aid needs and challenges of the aged to the Board.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles expressed delight at the partnership saying DOFA is a professional organization dealing with a specific category of vulnerable people the Board is eager to reach out to.
She welcomed the partnership noting she looks forward to a joint meeting at the home of the aged at Grafton. Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said she is personally touched to see young people get involved in pursuing the interests of the aged.
She urged the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DOFA, Doreen Barrie to ensure the organization respect the rights of the aged.
She encouraged DOFA to follow the example of Mother Theresa emphasizing that it should focus more on what they can do for the aged and less on what the Government has done or is doing for them.
In a short statement, the CEO of DOFA said she is excited to sign the MOU right in the presence of their first referral case to the Board. Ms. Barrie expressed optimism that the partnership will grow to a level that will see more old people benefit from it.
The ceremony was climaxed with the signing of the MOU.
